By Kolosa Vuso

One of the world’s biggest, most luxurious cruise ships will be docked in the Port Elizabeth harbour for the Fifa World Cup.

The five-star 285m-long European MS Westerdam, which has more than 950 cabins, is offering discerning soccer fans packages ranging from a three-night to seven-night stay, for the modest sum of about R8153 for three nights.

The packages include meals, entertainment, transfers and match transfers, but exclude match tickets and excursions.

The liner will be in the harbour for the first 14 days of the tournament, after which it will cruise between here and Cape Town.

The MS Westerdam will be accompanied by the MS Noordam, which will be cruising the Durban shore. They are owned by Holland America Cruiseline. Moltke Promotion GmbH of Munich partnered with Cape Town operator Ikapa Tours to bring them to South Africa.

Ikapa Tours and Travel’s Desmond Windt said: “It’s a five-star product which offers an all-inclusive package for tourists, fans and corporates.”

However, locals can pay to stay on board during the tournament, or go on one of the cruises.

Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism chief executive Fezekile Tshiwula said the ships would alleviate any shortage of accommodation during 2010. They would also boost interest and attention in the city.

“It is will be like a floating hotel where people will board from Durban to PE and tourists will also get to view the metro and see attractions on offer,” Tshiwula said.

Source: The Herald